Couch



Sept. 10, 1940. J, c FELDMAN 2,214,078

, coucn Filed March 15, 1939 2 Sheets-She a 1 2 SR aeets-Sh aat" 2 I COUCH J. c. FELDM'AN Filed March 15, 1939 Sept, 16, 1940.

Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUCH Application March 15, 1939, Serial No. 261,955

2 Claims.

This invention relates to couches and like articles of furniture of the convertible type.

In the manufacture of convertible couches or like articles of furniture, the desideratum is to provide an attractive structure possessing as many of the features of comfort of regular living room furniture as is possible. To this end attempts have been made to design couches of the convertible type so that when used as a couch the sitting surface is positioned at a level or sitting height proper for maximum comfort, and when extended for use as a bed, the sleeping surface is at the proper sleeping height. Another desirable feature is the use of an inner spring mattress in association with a coil spring base, as distinguished from a link fabric mattress support which does not afford the resiliency of the coil spring base.

Although in convertible couches of the type having a pivotally mounted upholstered back adapted to be swung to a horizontal position to provide a bed of superior size, it is possible to attain the proper sitting height, such constructions are not only relatively expensive, but fur- 5 thermore do not aiford what is considered the proper or most desirable sleeping height. In similar constructions having a non-upholstered back and a removable mattress carried by the seat section, the construction may be such as to provide either the proper sitting height or the proper sleeping height, but not both. Moreover, in constructions of this type no satisfactory means are providedfor moving the couch preparatory to lowering the back.

In couches of the type comprising nestable sections the same diffculties are encountered, and in constructions wherein a mattress is carried by the seat or outer section, the surface of the mattress is usually higher than that which is 40 considered the desirable sitting height, and when the sections are extended to form a bed of superior size, the sleeping surface of the mattress is usually lower than that which is considered the proper sleeping height.

In addition to the afore-mentioned objectionable features, the construction of the seat section is such that its surface is always maintained in a substantially horizontal plane, whereas for maximum comfort, the seat section should be slightly inclined rearwardly, as, for example, in conventional divans, lounge chairs and the like.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an attractive, relatively inexpensive comfortable couch having a construction which overcomes the afore-mentioned objectionable features and which may be quickly and conveniently converted from a couch having a seat slightly inclined rearwardly and positioned at the proper sitting height, to either a single bed or double bed having a horizontal sleeping surface posi- 5 tioned at a level which is considered the proper sleeping height.

Another object is to provide a couch which is normally supported by means effective to resist accidental displacement and which is provided 1o with means operative to transfer its weight to rollers or the like so that it may be easily moved from one position to another.

Further objects relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a con- 15 sideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. l is an end elevation of a couch constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation showing the couch 20 in extended position;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the couch in extended position;

Fig. e is an enlarged section on the line 4-4 of Fig. l; and i Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section through the couch, showing the construction and arrangement of the elevating mechanism.

The particular embodiment herein shown comprises a box-like main section I having a front 0 Wall 2 and end walls 3 and 4 which may be upbolstered or otherwise suitably finished. The section I is also provided with longitudinally ex tending frame members 5, 6 and I (Fig. 5) for supporting a mattress structure which may in- 35 elude a coil spring base and a built-in coil spring mattress 8, and along the inner face of each end wall, adjacent to the upper edges, there is provided a transverse frame member or metal bar 9 (Fig. 5) which is provided with an elongate slot ill adjacent to its rear end portion, as indicated by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 5. The front of the seat section I is mounted on posts ii which are preferably of the order of 1 inches to 3 inches higher than the supports or posts 52 carried by the rear of the section so as normally to maintain the sitting surface or seat section slightly rearwardly inclined, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The posts H and i2 each carry rubber buttons M or the like to prevent the couch from being moved freely when used as a seat.

The rear ends of the side walls 3 and 4 are each provided with a rearwardly extending bracket l5 (Fig, 4) formed with a vertically extending slot 16 (Figs. 1 and 2). The outer longitudinal edge 55' being of the order of 10 to 12 inches.

of the bracket I5 is formed with an inwardly directed wing I? (Fig. 4) which cooperates with the inwardly extending wing of an angle-iron l8 secured to the bracket l5, thereby to form in effect a guide or socket for receiving one of the end members of a back rest 29.

The back rest 26 comprises a substantially rectangular frame having end members 2! integral with a top rail member 22 and secured to a bottom member 23, the frame carrying a link fabric or the like mattress support (Fig. 3) adapted to receive a movable mattress 25, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The lower ends of the members 2i are provided with pivot pins 25 arranged to project into the slots it of the brackets l5 thereby to provide in effect a pivotal connection between the seat section i and the back rest 2% which permits the latter to be swung to a substantially horizontal position.

The construction and arrangement of the wings I! and !8 are such that they cooperate with the pin and slot connections iii-25 firmly to hold the back rest in upright position as shown in Fig. 1. In order to swing the back rest to horizontal position, it is merely necessary to lift it upwardly so that the lower ends of the members 2! clear the upper ends of the Wings 5? and i3, whereupon the back rest is free to swing downwardly. If desired. the pivot pins 26 may be carried by leaf springs 21 (Fig. 4) or the like yieldable supports so that they may be retracted from the slots l6, thereby permitting the back rest and associated parts to be separated from the seat section l to provide twin beds.

Adjacent to each end the back rest 25 is provided with legs or the like supporting members 28 pivotally connected at their upper ends to the members 22 and 23 so that they may be swung from a folded or nested position against the underside of the mattress support 25 (Fig. 1), to extended or back supporting position, wherein they hold the back rest 25 in a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The sitting surface of the main section 5, above described, is normally supported at a slight angle of inclination, the distance from the front edge of the top of the mattress 8 to the floor preferably being of the order of 12 to 14 inches and the corresponding distance at the rear preferably When the mattress 25 whose depth is preferably 1 to 5 inches) is positioned on the mattress 3, as shown in Fig. 1, the mean sitting height of the couch is of the order of 16 to 18 inches which is considered proper for maximum comfort, since a greater height would in many cases prevent the feet of the occupant from resting on the floor and a lower height would in many cases be attended with obvious disadvantages or discomforts.

Due to the inclination of the section i, it could not be satisfactorily used as a bed section and even though the rear of the section were elevated sufiiciently to provide a substantially horizontal sleeping surface, it will be noted that the sleeping surface provided by the mattress 8 would still be of the order of 12 to 14 inches from the floor and hence below that which is considered the proper sleeping height.

In order to maintain the section 8 or sleeping surface provided by the mattress 8 substantially horizontal and at a level corresponding to that which is considered the proper sleeping height, I provide an elevating mechanism 35 (Fig. 5)

which is conveniently operated by a handle or pull bar 3| (Figs. 1 and 3) consisting of an elongate U-shaped member having legs 32 and 33. The ends of the legs 32 and 33 extend inwardly through openings formed in the end walls 3 and G into the interior of the main section I, and are connected with the elevating mechanism presently to be described.

The elevating mechanism comprises two pairs of cross links 35 and 36 pivotally connected at 31, one pair of links being disposed at each end adjacent to the inner face of the end walls. The upper ends of the links 35 are pivotally connected to the front ends of the frame members 9 and the upper ends of the links 36 are provided with pins 38 which ride in the slots ID of the frame members 9. The lower ends of the links 35 and 36 are provided with casters or rollers 39 and the construction and arrangement of these links are such that when in folded or collapsed position, as shown by the full lines of Fig. 5, their lower ends are held above the floor sufficiently to be concealed from view by the end walls 3 and 4 and the front wall 2. Each of the inwardly extending ends of the legs 32 and 33 of the pull bar 3! is connected with a rocker arm ii (Fig. 5), the free end of each arm 40 being pivotally connected by a link 4| to the pin 38. One end of a tension spring 42 is secured at 43 to the frame member 9 and its other end is connected with the pin 38, the spring 42 being at all times under sufiicient tension to urge the end of link 35 inwardly. l

Since the section I is normally disposed at a slight angle of inclination, it is of course necessary to elevate the rear of the section to a greater height than the front in order to bring the sleeping surface into a substantially horizontal position. This may be accomplished by making the links 35 and 36 of substantially the same effective length so that the first part of the movement of the links from collapsed position toward extended position is effective to move the lower end of the link 35 downwardly a distance sufiicient to elevate the rear of the couch. Accordingly, the construction and arrangement of the links 35 an 36, the arms 40 and associated parts are such that when the pull bar 3| and arms it are rotated through an angle of approximately 135 to the position shown in the dot and dash lines of Fig. 1, the upper ends of the links 36 are drawn inwardly so as to extend the links 35 and 36 sufficiently to lift the entire section off the floor to an elevation permitting the entire section to be moved from one place to another; and when the pull bar 3| is further rotated approximately to an angle of 180 to 190, the links 35 and 36 are brought to fully extended position, as shown by the full lines in Fig. 2 and by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 5, wherein the section is elevated to bed height, that is, to a horizontal level wherein the posts H and i2 are of the order of l to 6 inches above the floor.

The construction and arrangement of the back rest 29 and associated parts are such that when swung to horizontal or double bed position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the mattress support 24 is at a horizontal level corresponding to that of the supporting members 5, 6 and I for the mattress 8 of the section I. When thus positioned the weight of the pull bar 3! is effective to hold the section I in elevated position and the top mattress 25 may then be transferred to the mattress support 24 of the back section 20 to form a double bed, as shown in Fig. 2. If desired, the

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two bed sections may be readily separated to form twin beds simply by depressing the pivot pins 26 sufficiently to clear the brackets l5, whereupon the two sections may be disengaged from each other.

When used as a couch the pull bar 3! is positioned against the back rest 2%! and held in such position by its own weight, it being noted that the design of the pull bar 3! is such that it extends along the rear edge of the upper mattress and hence does not interfere with the use of the couch. The usual set of pillows P may be positioned against the back rest 20 as indicated in Fig. 1 and when so positioned they conceal the pull bar 3|.

It will be noted that when the couch is set up as shown in Fig. 1, its entire weight is carried by the feet or buttons M which, as previously pointed out, may be of rubber or the like resilient material capable of preventing the couch from being accidentally moved when being used. Since the sitting height is of the order of 12 to 14 inches and the seating surface is rearwardly inclined, the maximum comfort is insured. If

it be desired to move the couch either for the purpose of cleaning around it or to change its location or to pull it out from the wall preparatory to lowering the back, it is simply necessary to swing the pull bar 3! forwardly to the position shown by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 1, thus extending the links 35 and 36 so that the weight of the section is transferred to the casters 39, whereupon the couch may easily be moved from one position to another, it being noted that the manipulation requires little or no lifting and bending on the part of the user.

It will further be noted that the couch may be used as a single bed simply by rotating the pull bar to the position shown in Fig. 2, in which case the entire section is elevated to a position which is considered the proper bed height level and when in this position the sleeping surface provided by either the mattress 8 or 25, as desired, is horizontal, it being understood that it is unnecessary to lower the back rest 20. The couch may be converted from a single bed to either a double bed or twin beds simply by lowering the back as previously described. To change from. a double bed or twin bed arrangement to couch position, the procedure is merely reversed, it being noted that when the pull bar 3! is swung upwardly to the position shown by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 1, it may be conveniently used to push the couch back against a wall or to whatever position is desired.

While I have shown and described one desirable embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose cf illustration and that various changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as iveil as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A convertible couch comprising a main seat section normally supported in a rearwardly inciined position at a level proper for sitting comfort, an elongate bar having downwardly and inwardly inclined ends pivotally secured to the opposite ends of said seat section and adapted to be swung from a position adjacent to the rear of said seat section forwardly to a position adjacent to the front of said seat section, an operating mechanism. pivotally connected to the ends of said bar and operative in response to pivotal movement thereof to raise said seat section to bed height level, and a back rest pivotally mounted at the rear of said seat section and constructed and arranged to be swung independently of said operating mechanism to a horizontal position to cooperate with said seat section when in horizontal position.

2. A convertible couch comprising an elongate box-like seat section having a sitting surface normally supported in a rearwardly inclined position and at a level proper for sitting comfort, elevating mechanism including a pair of equalizing links at each end of said section, crank arms associated with said links and an operating member connected with said crank arms so as to actuate said links so that said section is elevated to a position wherein its upper surface is in a substantially horizontal plane, and a back rest having a pin and slot connection with said seat section, said back rest being constructed and arranged so as to be swung downwardly to a horizontal position wherein it cooperates with the seat section when in elevated position, thereby to form a bed of superior size.

JACOB C. FELDMAN. 

